HTC

HTC is primed to announce the followup to the critically acclaimed HTC One on March 25th. While some debate likely went into the name, we can confirm that HTC's new flagship will be called the All New HTC One. While we won't know what exactly is in store until the big unveil on March 25th, we have a pretty good idea what to expect from the All New HTC One. While the big contender for 2014 from Apple is still months away, HTC is taking on heavyweights like Samsung and Sony head-on in the first half of 2014. So, with that, lets take a look at what the All New HTC One has to offer in the competition for the first half of 2014.

Like the original, the All New HTC One will be a large device. Bigger than the iPhone and roughly the same size as the LG G2, the All New HTC One is said to feature a screen somewhere between 5 inches and 5.2 inches. With smaller bezels this might not even necessarily increase the overall footprint of the phone. In terms of looks, no one would take this phone seriously if it ditched the aluminum unibody that made it stand out from the crowd. The solid aluminum body returns for the All New HTC One.

Internally, the All New HTC One features some powerful specs. The SnapDragon 800, which has powered many of the mobile world's top devices, returns to power the All New HTC One. The device itself clocks in at around 2.26 GHz, or roughly the same processing speed of the LG G2. What could set this device apart is an additional graphics processor which would come in handy when powering high-end mobile games. In terms of software, it comes as no surprise that this device will come loaded the latest Android operating system Android 4.4 KitKat.

The HTC One is by and large considered the top phone on the market right now. It features superior design in the form of a solid aluminum chassis, true stereo sound speakers, and internal components that put it at the top performance-wise. As we near the end of this phone generation and proceed towards a new iPhone, Galaxy, and possibly HTC phone, we thought it made sense to take a look at our top three favourite phone cases for the HTC One.

The Defender Series by Otterbox continues the brand's strong tradition towards protecting your devices. This time around the brand is focusing on the popular HTC One. The Defender Series uses triple layer protection to protect your device from scratches, dust, drops, bumps, and shocks. The layers include a clear protective membrane around the device, a hard polycarbonate shell, and a durable silicone layer. This case also ships with a belt clip holster and, of course, still allows full use of your phone's key ports and buttons. Take your phone wherever you want to and have to go with the Defender Series from Otterbox.

A high quality TPU skin designed to custom fit your phone, while allowing full access to the ports and controls. This lightweight case from G-Zed Mobile protects your HTC One while maintaining a low-profile, keeping your phone feeling thin and light without compromising durability. Preserve the investment in your phone by protecting it with a stylish and affordable skin from G-Zed Mobile.

Featuring a rigid Plextonium frame, the Incipio Feather Shine is a best-seller. Built to be lightweight yet durable, the Feather Shine weighs in at just 0.5 ounces and surrounds your device with extreme protection. Shipping in multiple colours, this case from Incipio suits any style and is a surefire hit.

They may have just launched the HTC One and HTC One Mini, but HTC has started to stumble. The company is slowly but surely starting to separate itself Samsung and Apple, and not in a positive way. Even though their phone, the HTC One, is thought to be the best phone available on the market today, the company as a whole is starting to become something of a third wheel next to the giants of mobile technology. HTC is now looking to get their horse back in the race with their new Emerging Devices department, a department hell-bent on innovation.

HTC's new department's main task is obvious. Find a way to make themselves the top phone builder. This would of course be done by making the most innovative products. In addition to creating new phones, the division also has the slightly vaguer task of working on "global distribution strategies".

While there are no whispers of any new phones creeping out just yet, what is apparent is that there is a pretty major shakeup going on at HTC. Numerous people have come and gone over the past little while. This is a sign of the company's dissatisfaction of with mediocrity.

The question is why does a company who builds the consensus best phone on the market need a shake up? Well, that vaguer part of the "Emerging Devices" department's mandate might play a role. To me it seems HTC has an image problem. Their name isn't as well known as Samsungs, and isn't as cool as Apples. It's a tough spot considering that the HTC One is such a good phone. While good products tend to sell themselves, HTC is up against the king of cool and the king of tech. This means they need to find a new way to breakthrough and get noticed in an oversaturated phone market and one built on being cool. While being good at something is usually good enough, HTC needs to work on doing it good, and looking good in the process. Something they have yet to master.

It may only be a couple of months old, but the HTC One will soon be getting an update or two. Rumours are running rampant that not only will the powerhouse smartphone receive an upgrade before 2014, but that an entirely new and improved HTC One (The HTC One Two?) will be coming in 2014. In addition to these new phones, their may also be a new low cost version of the One coming. This is, of course, not out of the blue for HTC, who released The One X and quickly followed that up with The One X+ in 2012. We'll take a look at all these new models (names not confirmed) right now.

The original HTC One in all its glory

The HTC One

A new version of the massively popular HTC One is very likely on its way. This phone will be a near copy of the HTC One outside of one glaring omission. The new version is said to do away with the solid aluminum body of the One in favour of a cheaper plastic chassis.

The HTC One.5

The new version of the HTC One, which is said to be coming out later this year, would also be similar to the HTC One, but would feature some improvements on the highly rated phone. One such improvement would be the introduction of the Snapdragon 800 chipset. The HTC One ships with that chips predecessor, the Snapdragon 600. This would of course represent a boost in speed for the device which is already considered amongst the fastest available.

The HTC M8

Not much is known about this phone outside of its spy-like codename. It is believed that prototype M8s have been used to test a new version of the Android operating system, Android 4.3., and that it will be coming out sometime in 2014.

Mobile phone giants HTC and Samsung ended last week on a rough note, falling short of sales expectations. HTC, in particular, was hit hard by a 83% drop in profits from last year, while Samsung, who still banked a cool $8.3 billion, fell short of their goals for this past quarter.

Cutting into both companies profits heavily were larger than usual marketing costs as both companies heavily pushed their flapship phones, the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4. Both gadget companies' fortunes now rest on their next wave of phones.

HTC is putting all their eggs in the HTC One Mini basket. The HTC One Mini is a smaller version of the highly-rated HTC One, and will reportedly feature a smaller screen and somewhat slower processor. For fans of the HTC One, don't worry, this phone still features that solid aluminum body that really makes the phone feel excellent in your hands.

Likewise, Samsung is pushing their own miniature device. The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini follows the pattern of HTC's mini phone, featuring a smaller screen, and poorer performance to go with a less sophisticated camera.

Both phone companies are betting it all on smaller being better in the next wave of the phone battle. The battle is particularly important for Samsung, who rely on their mobile phone division to bring in up to 70% of their total profits. Samsung is also a world leader in electronic components and other consumer electronics. The company is also looking to up its cash flow to fund five new research centers to boost their Research and Development department. Also, not far down the road is the next phone from electronics giant Apple. Both companies have to have their eyes and ears open to see what the heavyweight smartphone maker has coming down the pipe and how it will effect their bottom line.

Over the past week or so, we at Pure Mobile have been fussing quite a bit over the new Galaxy S4 and all the latest accessories for it. But we're also pretty pumped about another new Android phone, and we're really excited about the new arrival at our shop of a slew of coolHTC One accessories and carrying cases.

Back at the end of February, when the HTC One was unveiled, we gave you the lowdown on the phone's sleek, lightweight design and top-of-the line screen and interface. And now that its actually arrived, we're just as eager to give you the lowdown on the huge range of HTC One accessories now available.

OtterBox Defender HTC One Case in Black

Some of the leading accessories makers are turning their attention to the latest HTC phone, with popular carrying cases like OtterBox's Defender and Commuter now available for the HTC One. Both are already among the most protective and highest rated carrying cases for other phones, like the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S4. And the models for HTC One are no different.

Likewise, Incipio's also released their own HTC One accessories, with a model of their popular Feather carrying case for the latest HTC device. As with models for other devices, the Feather still offers rugged protection in a slim, lightweight case.

And of course, it's only to be expected that there be a few official HTC-branded accessories in the mix as well, like the Double Dip hardshell case and Double Dip Flip case for HTC One, both of which are stylish, sophisticated, and in keeping with the overall look of the HTC One.

HTC Double Dip Flip case for HTC One in Black and Red

There are plenty of other options as well when it comes to new HTC One accessories, from more heavy-duty cases to slim, minimalist protection. And, as much as the Galaxy S4 seems to be the star among new smartphones, all the attention being paid to the HTC One from accessories makers just goes to show that this is one phone that's got star quality of its own.

We're already well acquainted with HTC's One X and One S phones, but yesterday, as CNet joked, the company unveiled "One phone to rule them all." Just to be clear, that's the HTC One, no additional letter required.

This latest HTC flagship device may only have been unveiled 24 hours ago, but already the opinions, reviews and hype are adding up to a potential blockbuster for HTC.

Gizmodo quipped that it's "exactly how you're supposed to build a phone," highlighting not only the device's sleek, lightweight design but also its top of the line screen and its interface which, though this is an Android phone, has some similarities to a Windows Phone.

Let's talk about the looks: at 4.7 inches in size The HTC One boasts a beautiful and sleek aluminum body that's lightweight with a slight curve on the back. Its Gorilla glass 2 screen, according to Gizmodo, "is gorgeous." With a resolution of 1,920 × 1,080 and pixel density of 468ppi, we'd have to agree that it's one of the best out there right now.

On the inside of this Android-powered beauty is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1.7 gigahertz quad-core processor, with 2GB of RAM and a 2,300 mAh embedded battery.

Another feature everyone seems really excited about is the HTC One's cameras. The Front-facing one is fairly standard at 2.1 MP, but the rear-facer, though only 4 MP, is totally unique.

As Engadget notes, "before you go apoplectic with rage – the company's magical new imaging technology means that the One's 4-megapixel sensor isn't the slap in the face with a wet fish you'd assume it to be." Rather, as CNet reports, he camera will better pick up light and will work better in the dark than rival smartphone cameras such as the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S III."

Another nice thing about the new camera on the HTC One is its "Zoe" picture feature, which lets you take photos as short video clips, with the camera actually starting a second before you press the button and continuing for three more seconds.

"By scrolling through the photo gallery, shots come alive like something out of 'Harry Potter'," writes CNet. "In addition, collections of photos from a specific event are automatically collected and joined with music to create 'Zoe Highlight' videos."

Like previous flagship phones, the HTC One also integrates Beats audio technology, and it's got dual front-facing "Boom Sound" speakers for a pretty great video-watching experience.

We'll definitely be keeping our eye on the HTC One as it begins rolling out this March, and we can't wait to get our hands on one, or to start stacking up the accessories for the latest and probably best HTC phone to date.

Unveiled at an event in New York yesterday, HTC/Verizon's Droid DNA has already been getting rave reviews. Photo courtesy of CBS.

Recently, the Pure Mobile blog reported on an upcoming HTC/Verizon event slated for November 13 in New York city. When the invitations started rolling out, most (including us) assumed only one thing – HTC's latest smartphone, the Verizon-bound Droid DNA, would be making its first official appearance. Well, we all assumed correctly.

The event may only have wrapped up yesterday, but reviews are already in, and they're looking good. No, they're looking great, as major Tech sites start loading praise on the black and red device that may just reverse HTC's less than stellar fortunes of late.

"I may have (finally!) found my new Android Smartphone," wrote one BGR writer, while an article from Gizmodo described the new device as simultaneously "nuts" and "sick."

The Droid DNA is HTC's first flagship phone for Verizon in quite a while, but the company seems to have made up for lost time by putting out what Gizmodo calls "the most impressively spec-filled smartphone the world has yet known."

at 440PPI, the Droid DNA's 5" display beats out the competition

Speaking of specs, where do we start?

TechCrunch has called out the new smartphone's screen as its "biggest claim to fame." The 5" Gorilla Glass display is unique to the Droid DNA in North America – only the Japanese HTC Butterfly J has one like it. And with a resolution of 440 pixels-per-inch, the 1080p Super LCD3 screen certainly outpaces competitors like the iPhone 5.

Ok, so what's under the hood? The Droid DNA boasts 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a quad-core, 1.5Ghz Snapdragon Qualcomm processor, with 4G LTE sharing the same chip as the application processor. "Having one chip instead of two improves battery life," writes CNET.

But if your battery does run out of juice, the Droid DNA has wireless charging capabilities, though as TechCrunch notes, there aren't many details yet about accessories for that.

Powered by Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean, the device is NFC- and LTE- capable, and comes with Beats Audio. And its 2.1 megapixel front-facing and 8 megapixel rear-facing cameras are up to standard as compared with other recent devices.

So, how much will HTC's best smartphone to date run you, and when will you eb able to get your paws on its super-sized screen? The Droid DNA is already available for pre-order, but it'll be heading to Verizon for November 21 at a price of $200 with a 2-year contract.

This sparsely-worded invite to an HTC/Verizon event brings more questions than answers

Amid a pre-holiday frenzy of press functions and device releases, there's yet another event slated for the season. This week, HTC and Verizon began sending out invitations for a joint event in New York City November 13.

And while many other events have had a healthy enough rumor mill to prematurely supply answers to the inevitable questions, the HTC/Verizon to-do doesn't.

The main speculation surrounds a possible unveiling of the new HTC-made Droid DNA handset. The Verizon-bound smartphone's existence has already leaked in pricing lists, and the assumption is that the two companies will be using their November 13 event to launch the device.

A Minimum Advertised Pricing list obtained by AndroidCentral may confirm the existence of HTC's Droid DNA

But that in itself has only raised more questions. The event invite hints at "our latest collaboration." Does that phrase refer to the Android-powered Droid DNA? if so, will the HTC smartphone be a Verizon exclusive?

Or, as Engadget has speculated:

"What if this is just a coming-out party for HTC's 8X Windows Phone flagship? It's not a far-fetched idea: we already know it's coming to Verizon, but the exact pricing and on-sale date have yet to be revealed. Then again, the 8X has already been shown off at a press event or two, and we're not sure a Verizon-branded variant would merit such a high-profile news conference."

Still, with just a sparsely-worded invitation to go on, there's not much we can say for certain at the moment. It looks as though we'll have to just sit tight and wait for all to be revealed next week.

That is, unless we catch a break and the whole thing leaks. One can always dream...

Pocket-Lint obtained exclusive pictures of the HTC One X's next incarnation

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Or at least, that seems to be what HTC was thinking when designing their latest version of the HTC One X.

The new device, called the HTC One X+, isn't official yet. But pictures obtained exclusively by Pocket-Lint at least confirm its existence.

As you may have guessed from our opening statement, the new shots of the HTC One X+ look extremely familiar, and the new device is likely to be more of a tweak or an update than a total reinvention.

The Pocket-Lint pictures reveal mostly superficial changes to the exterior design. Pocket-Lint called the new phone “virtually identical” to its predecessor, with the exception of its black color accented by red details, and the new “b” logo for Beats Audio. Screen size, shape, and everything else appear to be the same.

That said, a lot more than just pictures of the HTC One X+ have emerged. As MobileSyrup notes, aside from the iPhone 5, it has been “perhaps the most-leaked phone of the last six months.”

And if you put together the rumors and conjecture from all the different sources, you begin to get a pretty good idea of what the next generation HTC phone is going to be.

It's expected to run on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, feature a 1.7GHz quad-core processor, and have 1GB of RAM, with 64GB of internal storage.

Again, it's not a huge overhaul. And some, like TechCrunch, are asking whether “pushing out mildly-updated versions of existing hardware could put HTC back on its original, lousy track.”

Still, it may just be that HTC have hit upon something good with the One family and have decided to hedge their betson the HTC One X+.

But I guess we're all just going to have to wait a little longer to find out if the odds are in their favor.